Government advisory group calls on Medicare to make hearing aids more affordable

June 02, 2016

WASHINGTON — Treating hearing loss shouldn’t be such a pricey hassle. That’s the message from a prestigious government advisory group that’s calling on Medicare and other agencies to find ways to make better hearing more affordable and accessible for millions of older Americans.

One proposal: Allow over-the-counter sales of simple devices for mild hearing problems as an alternative to full hearing aids – much like consumers with vision problems today choose between drugstore reading glasses or prescription bifocals.